Graze of glory
How McDonald’s supports farmers to be top of their field
BEEF farmer Becci Berry says the ultimate perk of her work is “being proud of what we’re producing”.
Becci’s standards were always sky-high. But she and her 150 cows are beefing things up in new and exciting ways. As a result, she’s thrilled with the quality of the beef she supplies for McDonald’s iconic burger patties.
“AI checks bird tweets – the more species, the better for the soil and insect life”
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And Becci is not alone. She’s joined other farmers across the country who are supported by McDonald’s to keep all its ingredients on point and help future-proof farms for generations to come.
The pioneering project she has participated in for the last year involves moving her herd round different grazing spots, in order to support grass and soil health – and encourage her farm to continue to regenerate.
“I was lucky to be asked to participate,” Becci says. “The experience has been so valuable.”
Beef, potatoes and dairy (more tastily known as burgers, fries and the milk that goes into your morning coffee) are all getting the attention they deserve from McDonald’s.
These farming initiatives aim to boost animal welfare, support the environment and make every McDonald’s meal great.
Good news for McDonald’s customers, and the farmers involved in the schemes – but the benefits go even further. Progress is carefully measured and the plan is to share the learnings industry-wide, so even more farmers can take advantage.
McDonald’s has been a British favourite for 50 years, and has always been big on where its ingredients come from. All its patties are made from whole cuts of 100 per cent British and Irish beef, its free-range eggs are freshly cracked for your breakfast McMuffin, and the majority of the potatoes in its world-famous fries come from over 100 British growers.
McDonald’s is always looking to the future, so the ingredients that make its meals so tasty can stay on the menu for good.
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To find out more, visit McDonald’s Plan for Change
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The beef that makes those burgers so delicious is supplied by the more than 23,000 British and Irish farmers that McDonald’s works with to source its ingredients day in, day out.
And some of them, including Becci Berry, are blazing a trail in sustainable agriculture.
The AMP project – that’s Adaptive Multi Paddock Grazing – is funded by McDonald’s.
It’s researching a regenerative way of farming, and could bring huge benefits for the land, the farmer and the cows.
Cows are moved from field to field to get the best grass, giving it time to recover. “If they’re getting good nutrition from nature, it makes sense that you’re producing something that is easier for us to benefit from as humans,” Becci says.
As well as grass, the wider hawthorn hedges are a popular snack for the cows. These protect the soil, keep the fields warmer and shelter wildlife.
What’s more, they help to provide habitats for birds, butterflies and other insects.
And as well as more birds and bees, there’s loads of useful data flying around. Fifty different measurements are taken to share with AMP-curious farmers, and they have no beef with the results.
McDonald’s is always out in front on food and drink that tastes good. Organic milk made a splash in its tea and coffee in 2007. And now it’s gone even larger on dairy.
McDonald’s partners with the farmer-owned co-operative Arla, and a network of organic dairy farmers.
Together they share what works to make sure their cows are thriving.
Up against climate change, there needs to be a new formula for success. McDonald’s is supporting one farmer to participate in Arla’s Europe-wide Regenerative Farming Pilot Farm Network, which has bold plans for biodiversity.
From bugs to birds and even what goes on in the soil, the network is finding ways to keep the widest variety of nature living its best life on the farm. Like fries in a carton, more is definitely more.
One of the genius ways it’s all measured is with AI monitors. They’re bird boxes with a difference, and McDonald’s has supported several farmers to put them up in their fields.
The monitors use AI tech to record and recognise every tweet. The more bird species there are, the better the outlook for the soil and insect life. It’s good news for farmers who want their land in rude health.
Spud love is big in the UK, so it’s no surprise that McDonald’s likes its potatoes to be the best of British.
Most of the potatoes that go on to become McDonald’s fries come from over 100 British growers.
These taters are part of an exclusive club of potato varieties grown for their great taste.
To guarantee that farmers can keep growing world-beating spuds, McDonald’s, together with long-term supplier partner McCain, created the Sustainable Fries Fund in 2020.
More than £1million has been chipped in to help make sure growers’ soil is thriving and water is used efficiently.
And there’s also money to run three hubs showing off regenerative methods to farmers. Every day’s a school day in a classroom created to spread the word about rotation, watering and healthy earth.
Potato soil can get compacted and the roots can struggle to push through, so the fund has paid for new kit to loosen things up in the fields.
And it’s not just for McDonald’s farmers – any growers supplying McCain can get their hands on it.
That goes for all the info in the Sustainable Fries Fund too. Sharing is caring. Except, of course, when it comes to actual McDonald’s fries.
POTATOES
DAIRY
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Becci’s cows enjoy the best grass and plenty of space to graze
McDonald's is funding research into low-stress farming methods
David Swinbank is one
of 100 British growers working with McDonald’s